Shrouded screw device for removing and depositing material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11401748-B2
Application number	US-202017118109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2020
Priority date	Dec 10, 2020
Publication date	Aug 2, 2022
Grant date	Aug 2, 2022

Abstract

A shrouded screw apparatus includes an outer tube, a telescoping inner tube, an auger bit, and an anti-rotation pin. The outer tube has a first sidewall defining a first interior chamber. The first sidewall has an opening defined therethrough. The inner tube is positioned in the first interior chamber. The inner tube has a second sidewall defining a second interior chamber. The second sidewall has a longitudinal groove defined therein. The inner tube is configured to extend from and retract within the first interior chamber of the outer tube. The auger bit is positioned in the second interior chamber and is rotatably coupled to the inner tube. The anti-rotation pin is coupled to the first sidewall of the outer tube and extends inwardly into the first interior chamber. The pin engages the longitudinal groove of the inner tube.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an outer tube having a first sidewall defining a first interior chamber, the first sidewall having an opening defined therethrough;
an inner tube positioned in the first interior chamber, the inner tube having a second sidewall defining a second interior chamber, the second sidewall having a longitudinal groove defined therein,
wherein the inner tube is configured to extend from and retract within the first interior chamber of the outer tube;
an auger bit positioned in the second interior chamber, the auger bit rotatably coupled to the inner tube; and
an anti-rotation pin coupled to the first sidewall of the outer tube, the anti-rotation pin extending inwardly into the first interior chamber and engaging the longitudinal groove of the inner tube, such that as the inner tube extends from and retracts within the first interior chamber, the inner tube is prevented from rotating with respect to the outer tube.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:
a depositing tube having a proximal end coupled to the outer tube; and
a receiving funnel coupled to a distal end of the depositing tube,
wherein the depositing tube defines a hollow cylindrical body aligned with the opening.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 , wherein a centerline of the depositing tube intersects a centerline of the outer tube at a non-zero degree angle.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the angle is in a range between and including twenty degrees (20°) and forty degrees (40°).

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a spring plunger assembly coupled to the outer tube, the spring plunger assembly extending inwardly into the first interior chamber and engaging the longitudinal groove of the inner tube,
the longitudinal groove of the inner tube further comprising a circular pocket located at a terminus of the longitudinal groove,
wherein as the inner tube extends from the first interior chamber, the spring plunger assembly engages the circular pocket to lock the inner tube in an expanded configuration.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a bearing cap coupled to the inner tube,
wherein the auger bit being rotatably coupled to the inner tube comprises the auger bit being rotatably coupled to the bearing cap.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 ,
the bearing cap comprising an inner bearing and an outer bearing fixedly coupled thereto,
the auger bit comprising a shaft coupled to the inner and outer bearings for rotation relative to the inner tube.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the inner and outer bearings comprise one or more of the following: a ball bearing, a roller bearing, and a sleeve bearing.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 ,
the bearing cap comprising an upper shoulder sized to engage a distal tube end of the outer tube.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 , the bearing cap comprising an upper bearing pocket receiving an outer bearing, and an identically sized lower bearing pocket receiving an inner bearing.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a seal coupled to the inner tube,
wherein the seal is sized and shaped to engage the outer tube as the inner tube extends from and retracts within the first interior chamber of the outer tube.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the seal is fabricated from one or more of a textile material and a flexible resilient material.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the seal is fabricated from non-woven felt.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the auger bit comprises a helical flight extending axially along a shaft of the auger bit.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the auger bit is a single flight auger bit.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the auger bit comprises two or more helical flights extending axially along a shaft of the auger bit.

17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a torque producing means coupled to the auger bit, the torque producing means configured to rotate the auger bit within the inner tube.

Assignees

• Honeywell Federal Mfg & Tech Llc

Inventors

• Kontras Evan A

Classifications

• E21B10/44

  Bits with helical conveying portion, e.g. screw type bits; Augers with leading portion or with detachable parts (E21B10/42 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B10/62

  characterised by parts, e.g. cutting elements, which are detachable or adjustable (E21B10/64 takes precedence; for roller bits E21B10/20; for augers E21B10/44) · CPC title

• E21B11/005 Primary

  Hand operated drilling tools · CPC title

• E21B17/07

  Telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers · CPC title

• E21B10/22 Primary

  characterised by bearing, lubrication or sealing details · CPC title